Occupational Endotoxin Exposure Reduces the Risk of Atopic Sensitization but Increases the Risk of Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness
Autor: | Smit, L.A., Heederik, D., Doekes, G., Lammers, J.W.J., Wouters, I.M., Risk Assessment of Toxic and Immunomodulatory Agents, Dep IRAS |
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Rok vydání: | 2009 |
Předmět: |
Hypersensitivity
Immediate Male Allergy Epidemiology Immunoglobulin E Atopy Risk Factors Forced Expiratory Volume Surveys and Questionnaires Odds Ratio Prevalence Immunology and Allergy Netherlands biology Bronchial responsiveness Farming Agriculture Hygiene hypothesis General Medicine Middle Aged Occupational exposure Bronchial hyperresponsiveness Pollen Female Bronchial Hyperreactivity Adult medicine.medical_specialty Immunology Coronacrisis-Taverne Air Pollutants Occupational Bronchial Provocation Tests medicine Humans Respiratory Sounds Asthma business.industry Rhinitis Allergic Seasonal Odds ratio Allergens medicine.disease Endotoxins body regions biology.protein business |
Zdroj: | International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, 152(2), 151. S. Karger AG |
ISSN: | 1423-0097 1018-2438 |
Popis: | Background: Microbial exposures in both childhood and adult life are protective against atopy, allergic rhinitis and atopic asthma. In adults, this protective effect is paralleled by an increased prevalence of non-atopic asthma. This study was undertaken to investigate associations between occupational endotoxin exposure and atopic sensitization and bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine (BHR) in agricultural workers. In addition, the role of atopy in endotoxin-related respiratory effects was studied. Methods: Data were available for 427 farmers and agricultural industry workers, for whom airborne endotoxin exposure levels were estimated by 249 personal exposure measurements. Atopy was assessed as specific serum IgE to common inhalant allergens, and respiratory symptoms and personal characteristics by standardized questionnaires. BHR was determined in a subset of 113 subjects. Associations were adjusted for age, sex, smoking and living on a farm during childhood. Results: Endotoxin exposure was positively associated with BHR and wheeze (p < 0.05). In contrast, endotoxin exposure was inversely associated with atopy and IgE to grass pollen (p < 0.001). The proportions of wheeze and BHR that were attributable to atopy were only 16.6 and 32.8%, respectively. Conclusions: High endotoxin exposure is a risk factor for BHR and wheeze, which were characterized by a predominantly non-atopic phenotype. At the same time, endotoxin exposure is related to a reduced risk of atopy and IgE to grass pollen in adults. It is unlikely that this is entirely a result of healthy worker selection, as significant inverse associations between endotoxin and IgE to grass pollen were found regardless of reported allergic symptoms. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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